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Silver Gilt Medal
Silver Gilt Medal
Hospice UK: Garden of Compassion
Designed by Tom Hoblyn
Photo: GardensDB
About this garden
The story
This garden draws on the spirit of Mediterranean landscapes, showing how thoughtfully designed spaces can play a crucial role in providing comfort and calm at the end of life.
Inspired by the Olive Houses in Mallorca and broader Mediterranean settings, it uses large rocks to create a strong sense of being grounded in nature. The layout mirrors the Olive Houses’ concept of interconnected rooms, offering everything from secluded corners for quiet moments to more open spaces for more communal use. Sculptural benches and water bowls draw visitors in, adding to the garden’s sense of tranquillity and reflection.
The planting includes soft silvers and olive greens from foliage and grasses, with vibrant blues, burnt oranges, and warm yellows. These colours are selected not only for their visual appeal but also for their drought-tolerance and their sensory impact-important for hospice users. Key plants include; Arbutus andrachne, Luma apiculate, Hunnemannia fumariifolia, Delphinium peregrinum and Ficus ‘Crystal Ice’.
Award
Recognition
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Silver Gilt MedalRHS
The people behind it
Designer
Planting
Plant list
Click on a plant to enlarge or purchase.
Acer monspessulanum
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Adonis annua
Aloysia citriodora
Anthyllis vulneraria var. coccinea
Antirrhinum majus subsp. majus
Antirrhinum molle
Arbutus andrachne
Asperula orientalis
Asphodelus fistulosus
Asplenium trichomanes
Atriplex halimus
Bituminaria bituminosa
Briza maxima
Centranthus lecoquii
Cephalaria transylvanica
Cistus 'Alan Fradd'
Cistus pulverulentus
Cistus x ralanthii
Cistus × aguilarii 'Maculatus'
Convolvulus cantabrica
Convolvulus sabatius
Crepis rubra
Cymbalaria muralis
Cytisus scoparius
Delphinium peregrinum
Dianthus 'Miss Farrow'
Dianthus cruentus
Didiscus caeruleus
Digitalis laevigata
Dracocephalum argunense 'Fuji Blue'
Dracocephalum rupestre
Ficus carica 'Ice Crystal'
Gladiolus italicus
Glaucium corniculatum
Glaucium flavum
Globularia alypum
Helichrysum cymosum
Helichrysum orientale
Hordeum jubatum
Hunnemannia fumarifolia
Isatis tinctoria
Lagurus ovatus
Legousia speculum-veneris
Lilium candidum
Linum bienne L.
Linum narbonense
Lomelosia argentea
Lomelosia cretica
Lonicera x heckrottii 'Belgica'
Lotus hirsutus 'Frejorgues'
Luma apiculata
Lupinus pilosus
Malabaila aurea
Marrubium incanum
Marrubium supinum
Muscari comosum
Myrtus communis
Oenothera versicolor 'Sunset Beauty'
Onosma echioides
Onosma rigida
Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty'
Oryzopsis miliacea
Papaver carmeli
Papaver glaucum
Papaver umbonatum
Phlomis cytherea
Phlomis purpurea 'Alba'
Pinus halepensis Mill.
Pinus pinea
Ridolfia segetum
Rosa 'Sally Holmes'
Rosa canina
Rosa multiflora
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Whitewater Silver'
Salvia 'Skylark'
Salvia cyanescens
Santolina viridis 'Olivia'
Satureja thymbra
Scabiosa ochroleuca
Silene vulgaris
Sparteum junceum
Stachys cretica
Teucrium marum
Teucrium subspinosum
Thymus vulgaris 'Compactum'
Tordylium apulum
Trifolium boissieri
Tulbaghia violacea 'Fairy Star'
Vaccaria hispanica
Brought to life by
Organisations
Design Studio 1
Plant Provider 1
Sponsors 2
Supporter 1
Further reading